Inside Nassau Conference IV
Norman Brown of Malverne rushes for several yards while being pursued by William Feldmann of North Shore during a Nassau Conference IV football game on Oct. 30, 2021. Credit: Dawn McCormick
MUST-SEE GAMES
Oct. 1, Malverne at Clarke, 3 p.m.
Clarke, which enters the season as the fourth-seeded team in the conference, faces an early test as it hosts fifth-seeded Malverne. The Mules, looking to build off their 4-5 season last year, will lean on running back Norman Brown to lead the way after rushing for 525 yards and five touchdowns on 80 carries in 2021. Clarke returns talented running back Justin Somyak following an appearance in the county semifinals.
Oct. 7, Seaford at Cold Spring Harbor, 7 p.m.
The Vikings have surely awaited this rematch since last year after suffering their only loss of the season to Cold Spring Harbor in the county semifinals, 28-26. The Seahawks thwarted a Seaford two-point conversion attempt with 15 seconds remaining to seal the victory and a berth in the final. CJ Reilly sparked Cold Spring Harbor with 118 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Oct. 22, Cold Spring Harbor at North Shore, 2 p.m.
The most anticipated matchup of the Nassau IV regular season, Cold Spring Harbor visits North Shore for the first time since their county championship showdown last season. A 2-yard rushing touchdown by Daniel Quigley late in the fourth quarter proved to be the difference in North Shore’s thrilling 21-14 victory – the program’s first county title since 1975. The Vikings then proceeded to win the Long Island Class IV championship over Shoreham-Wading River, 7-0 for their first-ever Long Island crown.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW
James O’Hagan, a standout offensive and defensive lineman for Seaford from 2010-2013, is currently a graduate assistant for the SUNY Buffalo football team after signing with the Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2019 and playing in the XFL in 2020.
GOOD VENUE
Located on top of a hill with woods in the background, Cold Spring Harbor’s field has one of the most charming appeals on Long Island.
SOUND OF MUSIC OR THE GREAT ENTERTAINMENT OF A KICKLINE OR CHEER SQUAD
Seaford is well-known for having a top-notch marching band that has also performed at a number of holiday parades.
WHAT A CHARACTER
The Malverne Mule mascot always brings plenty of entertainment for the team’s games.
COACHING SPOTLIGHT
Dan Agovino enters his 21st season at the helm for North Shore after enjoying his best one ever.
Following a 2-2 start in 2021, Agovino’s Vikings rallied for eight consecutive wins to close out the season, winning both their first county title since 1975 with a 21-14 victory over Cold Spring Harbor and the program’s first-ever Long Island championship after defeating Shoreham-Wading River, 7-0.
Agovino, however, said the team’s primary focus entering the season remains on improving incrementally every day.
“We are just very excited to get back on the field to play football,” Agovino said on Aug. 28. “Our focus right now is to come to practice day in and day out to focus on fundamentals and compete with each other to get ourselves better each day as we prepare for our Week 1 opponent.”
